Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1526583
8 | Health Matters: Providence Sonoma County I f you're critically injured in Northern California, you're likely to receive lifesaving care at Providence Santa Rosa Memorial's Trauma Center. "Ours is the only Level II trauma center between the Oregon state line and the San Francisco Bay Area," says Omar Ferrari, DO, director of the Department of Emergency Medicine. "We care for more than 4,500 trauma patients each year, including around 600 who are transported by helicopter. And we're in the top 10% nationally when it comes to positive patient outcomes." Santa Rosa Memorial's team of specialized emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, nurses and other staff treat patients with life-threatening injuries 24/7/365. "There is no injury we can't treat, but the ones we see most often stem from traffic accidents, falls by people who are on blood thinners, gunshots, stabbings and the like," Dr. Ferrari says. Injured people are stabilized, triaged, then transferred to our hospital immediately via ambulance or helicopter. "I want to make sure people know how important Santa Rosa Memorial's trauma center is to the community. It was astounding how swiftly I received treatment," says Rebecca Green Birdsall, who was treated for sepsis in the ER. Founded in 1996 by Brian Schmidt, MD, the program also addresses the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their families at what are often the worst moments of their lives. "Our nurses, social workers, psychiatric liaisons and multidenominational pastoral staff work together with our physicians to provide whatever support patients need," says Dr. Ferrari. Providence believes that health care is a human right. To ease financial burdens, Providence hospitals often offer medication vouchers or pay for Uber rides home for patients who live hundreds of miles away. "We all work together as a family, and that results in better care for our patients' medical as well as emotional needs," says Dr. Ferrari. Santa Rosa Memorial's Trauma Center has partnered with several local and nationwide agencies to help reduce serious injuries and deaths from vehicle accidents, gunshots and other causes with free community outreach programs. What Do You Consider Lethal? is a program from Impact Teen Drivers, an organization that teaches safe driving skills to high school students. "Motor vehicle crashes are the number two cause of trauma in Sonoma County and the number one killer of teens nationwide," says injury prevention coordinator Brooke Brand, one of the program's instructors, who also works to reduce alcohol-related vehicle accidents. Stop the Bleed is a Providence initiative that teaches people how to safely control major bleeding using basic supplies. Brand hosts trainings for educators, and the hospital donates emergency kits to classrooms. "Life- threatening bleeding can happen anytime—during accidents, traumatic events or natural disasters," she says. "We can transform community members from witnesses to immediate responders and save lives." For more information on these and other programs, including class schedules, go to providence.org/SantaRosaClasses. Dr. Omar Ferrari Compassionate Trauma Care Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital's Level II Trauma Center excels at saving lives and easing psychological pain.